Unpacking the Harvard Business Review’s 6 Leadership Styles: Which One Suits Your Leadership Approach?
Are you struggling to lead your team effectively? Do you find it challenging to motivate your team to perform to their full potential? If your answer is yes, then you’re not alone. Managing people is never an easy task, but with the right leadership style, you can make a significant difference.
Harvard Business Review has identified six leadership styles that can be used to manage teams effectively. Understanding these styles and applying them to your leadership approach can help you lead your team towards success. In this article, we’ll discuss each leadership style and which one suits your approach.
The Six Leadership Styles
1. Coercive Leadership: This style of leadership involves giving orders and expecting immediate compliance. The coercive leader believes that employees respond best to authoritative control and punishment for non-compliance. This style can be useful in a crisis when immediate action is needed, but it can lead to demotivation if overused.
2. Authoritative Leadership: This style of leadership involves leading by example and setting goals. The authoritative leader provides a clear vision and inspires employees to achieve it. This style can be highly effective in times of change, but it may not be suited to organizations that require innovation.
3. Affiliative Leadership: This style of leadership involves creating a positive work environment by building relationships among team members. The affiliative leader focuses on nurturing trust, communication, and collaboration. This style can be effective in building teamwork, but it may not provide enough guidance for employees who need structure.
4. Democratic Leadership: This style of leadership involves encouraging participation from team members in decision-making. The democratic leader seeks input and feedback from employees and considers it in their decision-making process. This style can be effective in fostering trust and engagement, but it may not be suitable for organizations that need quick decisions.
5. Pacesetting Leadership: This style of leadership involves setting high standards for employees and holding them to those standards. The pacesetting leader leads by example and expects employees to follow suit. This style can be effective in driving productivity and results, but it can lead to burnout and high turnover.
6. Coaching Leadership: This style of leadership involves working with employees to identify their strengths and weaknesses and providing guidance to help them improve. The coaching leader fosters a culture of growth and development and focuses on individual learning. This style can be effective in developing employees’ skills and improving performance, but it may not be suitable for organizations that need quick action.
Which Leadership Style Suits Your Approach?
Now that we’ve covered the six leadership styles let’s discuss which style suits your approach. If you’re a new manager, you may be tempted to use the coercive style, but be careful not to overuse it as it can lead to low morale. The authoritative style can be a good fit if you’re leading a team through change, but it may not be appropriate for a team that needs creative thinking.
If you want to build a positive work environment, the affiliative style may be a good fit for you. The democratic style can be useful if you seek employee feedback and collaboration, but be aware that it can lead to slow decision-making. The pacesetting style can be effective if you need quick results, but it can be challenging to maintain employee motivation.
Finally, the coaching style may be a good fit if you want to develop your employee’s skills and facilitate their career growth.
Conclusion
In summary, understanding the six leadership styles can help you choose the most suitable approach for your team. There’s no one-size-fits-all leadership style, and you need to assess your team’s needs to determine which style works best. By practicing these leadership styles, you can develop your skills as a leader and lead your team towards success.
